South Africa‘s parliament elected Kgalema Motlanthe as the nation‘s third post-apartheid president, after the dramatic ouster of Thabo Mbeki by his own party.

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The ruling party‘s second in command won 269 of the 360 votes cast, Chief Justice of the constitutional court, Pius Langa, said.

”I accordingly declare the honourable Kgalema Motlanthe the duly elected president of the republic of South Africa,” he told the house, which erupted in cheers and applause.

Motlanthe will guide the country toward elections next year while aiming to bridge the gaping divide within the ruling African National Congress as the nation comes to grips with its worst political crisis since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Motlanthe, known as a level-headed presence in the ANC had been sworn in as the President of South Africa.

He will have to build bridges between the supporters of the fallen Mbeki and the ANC president, Jacob Zuma, whose bitter political wrangling led to the resignation of Mbeki last weekend.

Motlanthe attended Mbeki‘s last cabinet meeting Wednesday, trying to send a message of continuity within the government after a third of the country‘s top leaders, including the country‘s deputy president, resigned in solidarity.

While it is expected that seven will stay on in the new administration, several others have said they are not willing.

Zuma, who in December 2007 replaced Mbeki as ANC leader, has downplayed concerns that the political turmoil has plunged the country into crisis.

”There is no problem, the situation is under control, there must be no panic,” he said on e-tv news.

As party leader, Zuma is widely expected to be voted into the country‘s top office in the elections next year.

Mbeki bowed to a call to resign from the presidency following a damning court ruling that hinted he was instrumental in a decision made to prosecute his longtime rival, Zuma, whom he fired as the country‘s deputy president in 2005.

He has denied the allegations and is appealing that aspect of the ruling in a bid to clear his name from the insinuation of judicial meddling.

In a farewell message to his cabinet Mbeki said he had accepted the ANC‘s decision in the interest of South Africa and without”resistance or rancour.”

The sudden end to Mbeki‘s nine-year administration leaves an embarrassing stain on the legacy of the man who succeeded anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.

The political turmoil has rattled the economy, with currency markets shaken by the decision of the widely-respected finance minister, Trevor Manuel, to resign with the other top officials.

Manuel‘s spokesman later made it clear that he was ready to serve the new administration.

Zuma said the decision to recall Mbeki had been”one of the most painful and difficult decisions” taken in the party‘s history.